Aussie entrepreneur Julian Petroulas blasts smear campaign after he was banned from Indonesia and shock claims emerged about his multi-million dollar property empire

An Australian entrepreneur who boasted of making millions from his property investments in Bali says he has been the target of a smear campaign after claims emerged that he had been banished from Indonesia and that he did not own any homes.

Julian Petrolas, 33, insists he owns leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land in Indonesia, as well as a popular restaurant, and that the country’s immigration officials wrongly excluded him.

Mr Petrolas is said to have acquired the lease rights to the land from a French citizen more than a year ago.

He is currently involved in a lawsuit against the person who sold him the leasehold rights to the property.

The lawsuit, filed in the Denpasar District Court, alleges breach of contract and ethical violations in the transaction.

Following the filing of the lawsuit, several negative media articles targeting Mr. Petroulas appeared. His legal team suspects that these publications are part of a retaliatory campaign.

“We find the timing of these articles suspicious and believe they are intended to damage Julian’s reputation during this legal dispute,” his legal advisor said.

Mr Petroulas insists he owns leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land, as well as the quirky Penny Lane eatery in Canggu

Following allegations of violations of immigration law, Mr Petroulas confirmed that he is using a valid Visa on Arrival (VOA) during his visits to Bali.

According to his legal advisor, he uses the visa only for short visits to monitor his investments.

Mr. Petroulas resides permanently in Dubai, not Indonesia, and does not physically manage or conduct any business activities in Bali, making his VOA a legitimate means of entry for his purposes.

“I have always respected Indonesian laws and customs and will continue to do so,” he said.

“These allegations are baseless and I am confident that the truth will prevail.”

Mr Petroulas has amassed thousands of followers on social media with posts showcasing his luxurious lifestyle on the holiday island.

“I’ve owned a lot of villas here in Bali over the years,” he said in a video posted to YouTube earlier this year, titled “how to make MILLIONS of dollars in Bali.”

‘I started investing here a few years ago and it really was a gold mine.’

Later in the video, Mr Petroulas showed off a jungle-covered plot of land and described it as ‘my biggest land purchase ever – 1.1 hectares, it’s absolutely bloody crazy’.

He also showed viewers his lavish eatery in Canggu, called Penny Lane, adding that “this restaurant, in Bali of all places, is actually making millions of dollars a year.”

But the Indonesian government has soured on Mr Petroulas after learning of the videos and local press coverage of them.

Saffar M. Godam said Mr Petroulas’ videos had the potential to damage Indonesia’s image as an investment destination

Mr Petrolas, who lives in Dubai, claims he owns leasehold rights and that the ban is unfair

Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration told Daily Mail Australia this week that it had denied Mr Petrolulas entry into the country.

Petroulas told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday he owned the leasehold rights to 1.1 hectares of land and the Penny Lane restaurant on another part of the island.

Mr Petroulas said the problems started when he filed a lawsuit in a Balinese court against the Frenchman who sold him the 1.1 hectares, alleging breach of contract.

Since then, negative articles about him had surfaced in the local press, which his lawyers said were part of a “campaign of retaliation.”

The unsubstantiated claims in Balinese media had prompted an “emotional response” from the government, Petroulas said.

The Indonesian government never contacted him to verify his ownership rights before the ban.

“The escalation into immigration and the subsequent ban are both shocking and disappointing,” he said.

“This ban sends a worrying message to foreign investors and entrepreneurs who have followed the law and contributed significantly to the Indonesian economy.

“I hope the authorities will carefully assess the facts and reconsider their actions in light of the evidence, because everything I have done in Indonesia is 100 percent legal and by the books.”

Penny Lane confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Mr Pertroulas did indeed own the restaurant.

“He is not involved in the day-to-day operations as he lives in the UAE, but he has an interest in the company as a shareholder. We hope that the government will rectify this quickly.’